Accumulation of the carbonaceous species on the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst during CO2 reforming of methane

The dependency of the rate Of CO2 reforming of methane on the catalyst loading and the reactor size was examined at a fixed temperature of 750 degreesC and a fixed GHSV of 18000 mL(STP)/g(cat).h. The conversion of methane in CO2 reforming decreased with increase in the reactor size. The catalyst was severely deactivated with increase in the catalyst amount. The amount of carbonaceous species combustible below 550 degreesC, determined by TPO experiments with the used catalyst samples increased with increase in the catalyst amount, which was again confirmed by XRD and TEM experiments. The increase of the carbonaceous species combustible below 550 degreesC may be due to the suppression of the reverse Boudouard reaction, since the CO2 reforming of methane, a highly endothermic reaction, resulted in lowering the reaction temperature.